MUSIC
He was simultaneously more country than most country
artists of his time and more of a staunch, down-and-dirty
Southern rocker than almost all of the Southern rockers. I’m
not sure that he ever realized just how good he was. ‘‘ ‘‘
— Late Rolling Stone editor
Chet Flippo on Gary Stewart
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Carson, was one of his favorite songs. Dylan had mentioned
him in a 1978 Playboy interview, saying Stewart was one of
the recent artists he enjoyed.
TEXAS FAN BASE
Stewart drew a large following in Texas, playing such venues
as the popular Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth.
“Everybody in Texas knows who Gary Stewart is,” said
Schwartz. “Most artists in Texas play his An Empty Glass, ”
written by Stewart and Dean Dillon.
Terry Porter of Luckenbach, Texas, agrees that Empty Glass
is played more than any song in Texas. Porter served as Stewart’s
road manager for nine years, beginning in the 1990s.
Porter had been working with such rock bands as the Rolling
Stones and ZZ Top when Stewart asked him how much
he knew about country music. “I said, ‘nothing,’ ” Porter
recalled. “He said, ‘You’d be perfect with me.’ ”
Porter traveled with Stewart all over the country, including
Indian reservations — from the Sioux in South Dakota to the
Seminoles in Florida — where Stewart had huge followings.
“Gary played for the Sioux Nation to help them raise
money for a benefit opening a Jim Thorpe football arena in
South Dakota,” Porter said. “They hired us for entertainment.”
Stewart performed before several thousand Native
Americans where he and his band members were named
blood brothers.
Although the hits weren’t coming as in the early days,
Stewart’s love of performing in clubs, honky-tonks and reservations
kept drawing in more crowds.
It was about the music, not the money, Porter said. “Gary >>
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